they are reclaimed in the form of 1.03 million tons of compost (34%), 1.16 million tons of animal feeding stuff (39%), and 390,000 tons of extracted oils and fats (13%), making a total of 2.59 million tons (a recycling rate of 86%).

The food wastes (business type municipal wastes) derived from food distribution industries and restaurants are reclaimed as 790,000 tons of compost (15%), 470,000 tons of animal feeding stuff (9%), and 840,000 million tons of extracted oils and fats (15%), making a total of 2.11 million tons (a recycling rate of 39%).

On the other hand, food wastes derived from domestic households (household municipal wastes) are generated in small amounts and from numerous places, and the composition is too complicated, therefore, only 520,000 tons (5%) are now reclaimed.

As a result of the foregoing, in total, 5.22 million tons (28%) of the food wastes are reclaimed by composting or animal feeding and the remaining 13.66 million tons (72%) are incinerated and disposed by landfill.

Additionally, rubbish type biomass including food wastes have more possibility to be reclaimed for compost or animal feeds and to be converted to energy or electric power, it is required to further promote their reuse in the establishment of a Sound Material-Cycle Society and the creation of a society that does not contribute to global warming.

### H. Automobiles

## (a) Automobiles

From the used automobiles sold by collecting companies (mostly car dealers) to the scrapping companies, useful parts and frameworks, such as engines and auto bodies are collected. From the remaining scrap wastes sold on to the shredding companies, iron materials and other useful metals are collected, and the remainder (shredder dusts) are disposed as wastes (Figure 2-28). Concerning the percentage by weight of an automobile, about 20 to 30% are collected (reuse of parts) as useful parts by scrapping companies and about 50 to 55% are recycled (material recycling) as material.

The “Law on the Recycling of Used Automobiles” (abbreviation: “Automobile Recycling Law”) has been enforced and in full operation since January 2005, in the period from enforcement until March 2009, recycling fees for about 92.77 million automobiles have been deposited and in Year 2008 alone. 3.58 million used automobiles were disposed of in accordance with the Automobile Recycling Law.

Since October 2005, new support businesses were started, using the deposit money for specified recycling materials, for the municipalities on the isolated islands where there are problems in the delivery of used automobiles. In 89 municipalities deposit money disbursement was applied to 23,000 used automobiles, in Year 2008.

## (b) Tires

According to the Recycling Business Division of the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturing Association, out of 1,022,000 tons of waste tires generated in Year 2005, (Year 2004 1,043,000 tons) 373,000 tons (Year 2004 468,000 tons) were used in the original form or fabricated form for export, and used as the base for retreads or rubber powder, 524,000 tons (Year 2004 448,000 tons) were used for smelting/cement burning or electric power generation,

Concerning used waste tires, as it is not easy to distinguish a good tire from a waste one, there are cases where waste tires were falsely described as good ones and improperly stored in a field have caught fire and caused problems. The Ministry of Environment have already sent notices to the prefectural and city governments, instructing them to handle

Figure 2-28 Used vehicle disposal flow (fiscal year 2007)

Source: Created based on materials distributed at the 13th Joint Meeting of the Expert Committee on Vehicle Recycling in the Waste and Recycling Committee of the Central Environment Council, and the Vehicle Recycling WG in the Waste and Recycling Subcommittee under the Environment Division of the Industrial Structure Council, held in May 2008